Tote Bags vs Backpacks: Choose Your Perfect Daily Bag

Whether a tote or a backpack suits you depends on what you carry and how far you carry it. A tote is quicker to get into and looks smarter in an office. A backpack spreads the weight over both shoulders and leaves your hands free. If you prefer to carry by hand, our BANGE 6803 tote is a good pick, while the BANGE Zenith 22005 backpack covers hands-free days.

The Basic Difference

Tote bags have two parallel handles and are carried in the hand or over one shoulder. Most are open at the top or close with a single zip, with one large main compartment inside.

Black BANGE 6803 tote bag with tan shoulder handles — The BANGE 6803 tote: two compartments, room for a 14-inch laptop, and water-resistant polyester.

Backpacks sit on both shoulders on adjustable straps. They close with zips and usually have several compartments, including a padded sleeve for a laptop.

Why Choose a Tote

It looks smarter. A plain tote works with a suit as well as with jeans, and it looks more at home in a client meeting than most backpacks.

You get into it faster. With an open top or a single zip, you can reach your phone or a notebook without putting the bag down.

Looking down into an open BANGE 6803 tote with a laptop held by a strap — Inside the 6803, a strap holds the laptop upright and smaller items sit in their own sleeves.

It goes to more places. The same tote works for the office, for dinner and as the personal item on a flight.

It holds a lot for its size. A laptop, documents, a water bottle and a light jacket fit in a tote only a few centimetres deep. The 6803 is 9 cm deep and still takes a 14-inch laptop.

Best Uses for a Tote

Offices and client meetings
Flights, as your personal item
Dinners and evenings out
Shopping and errands

Why Choose a Backpack

It's easier on your body. Two straps share the weight across both shoulders, so a laptop and books are easier on your back than they are on one shoulder.

Padded shoulder straps and back panel of a black BANGE Zenith 22005 backpack — Two padded straps and a breathable back panel on the Zenith 22005 spread the load across both shoulders.

Your hands stay free. On stairs, on a crowded train or on a bike, you don't have to hold anything or keep swapping shoulders.

Everything has a place. Separate pockets for the laptop, charger, keys and phone mean you don't have to dig for them.

It keeps the weather out. A zipped backpack keeps rain and spills away from your things far better than an open tote.

It stays put when you move. On a bike or when you're rushing for a train, a backpack doesn't swing or slip off your shoulder.

Best Uses for a Backpack

Commuting with a laptop
Travel and trips of a few days
The gym
Walks and day hikes
University, with books and a laptop

Front compartment of a BANGE Zenith 22005 backpack unzipped to show its pockets — The Zenith 22005's front section opens onto separate pockets, so small things stop sinking to the bottom.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Tote Bag	Backpack
Style Factor	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Comfort (Long Hours)	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organization	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Weather Protection	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Access	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Versatility	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hands-Free Carry	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Travel-Friendly	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How to Choose

Plenty of people own both. If you have to pick one, use these two lists.

Choose a Tote If:

You want a bag that looks right in an office or a meeting
You get things out of your bag many times a day
You'd rather carry on one shoulder than two
You usually carry a laptop, a tablet and some papers, and not much more
You fly now and then and want a neat personal item

Khaki BANGE 6803 tote next to a laptop, with its 45 x 30 x 9 cm dimensions marked — The 6803 measures about 45 x 30 x 9 cm, so a 14-inch laptop slides in without making the bag look full.

Choose a Backpack If:

You carry a laptop, books or work kit every day
Comfort over a long day matters more to you than looks
You need both hands free
You want separate pockets for everything
You cycle, walk a lot or play sport before or after work
You need to keep your things dry in the rain
You travel often

Why Not Both?

A lot of people use a backpack for commuting and gym days and switch to a tote for meetings and evenings out. If your week has both, buy one of each.

Navy blue BANGE 6803 tote bag with tan handles — The 6803 also comes in navy, pink and khaki as well as black.

The 6803 tote costs $59.99 and the Zenith 22005 backpack $67.99, so the pair comes to $127.98.

Materials

Polyester and nylon are what most totes and backpacks at this price are made of. Both are light and wipe clean. Polyester is rated in denier (D): the higher the number, the thicker the yarn and the harder the fabric is to tear.

Canvas and cotton suit a casual tote and are easy to spot-clean, but they soak up rain unless they're coated.

Leather lasts a long time and ages well, but it's heavier and needs conditioning. Both BANGE bags in this guide are synthetic: the 6803 tote is water-resistant polyester and the Zenith 22005 is waterproof Oxford fabric.

Care Tips

For tote bags:

Wipe polyester and nylon with a damp cloth and mild soap
Spot-clean canvas with soap and water
Let the bag dry completely before you put it away
Store it away from direct sunlight

For backpacks:

Empty the pockets regularly
Wipe down the straps and handles every week or two
Hand wash with mild soap. A washing machine can damage the coating on waterproof fabric
Let it air dry, away from direct heat
Check the zips and strap stitching now and then

Close-up of the padded shoulder strap on a BANGE Zenith 22005 backpack — Straps and their stitching take the most strain on a backpack. Check where they join the bag before anything else.

Tote or Backpack from BANGE

For a tote, the BANGE 6803 has two compartments and a strap that holds a 14-inch laptop upright. It comes in black, navy, pink and khaki for $59.99. For a backpack, the Zenith 22005 is made of waterproof Oxford fabric, expands from 25 to 35 litres and has a USB charging port, for $67.99.

See more in our bags and backpacks collections.